A Season of Opportunities
As spring brings a flush of green to the fields and forests around us, flowers begin to bloom, and farmers start their growing seasons, the evidence of seasonal transition is all around us. The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) is also in a time of transition. In September, after 23 years serving BTLT as either a board member or executive director (15 years), Angela Twitchell will be leaving to assume the role of Director of Land Trust Programs at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. In this role she will lead efforts to provide technical support and guidance to all of Maine’s land trusts. This is a professional opportunity for which she is extremely well-qualified. We know that in her new role, she will do wonderful work supporting land conservation across the state.
In the meantime, our work to execute the merger with the Cathance River Education Alliance (CREA) while running all our programs continues unabated. We have formed a transition team to plan the search for a new leader. When Angela departs in September, CREA Executive Director Caroline Eliot will serve as BTLT’s interim director until a new leader is in place, at which point Caroline will resume her role as a part of the senior leadership team.
Angela has been a strong leader and like any good leader, she will leave behind a robust organization with effective systems, excellent governance structures, and a truly talented staff that is well-positioned to continue our great work. Not only will our wonderful programs continue, but as is often the case, change creates the opportunity for fresh ideas and expanded horizons.
The merger of CREA and BTLT was born out of our shared understanding that our community wants and needs more opportunities to learn about and engage with the natural world. As we search for a new Director, we will ensure that we focus on dynamic candidates that understand and embrace the essential role of education in raising the next generation of Earth’s stewards, while maintaining our strong commitment to conservation and stewardship that has defined BTLT from its beginning.
Angela has led the Land Trust through a period of extraordinary growth, both in the amount of conserved land we steward and in our community impact. We will miss her terribly, but our loss will be the gain of the larger conservation community. We are glad Angela is not going far and we look forward to continuing to benefit from her leadership and enthusiasm in her new role.
We’re excited for BTLT’s future and the opportunities ahead for heightened impact as we join forces with CREA and seek out a new executive director to lead us into the years ahead.
